Nabarangpur, Nov 6 (UDN): The annual Maa Gajalaxmi Puja commenced with religious fervour and enthusiasm at the Maa Laxmi Mandap in Reli Sahi, located in Laxminagar of Dabugaon block in Odisha’s Nabarangpur district.
As part of the religious rituals, the sacred water was worshipped at Maa Thakurani Bandh last night. Following the traditional prayers, the idol of Maa Gajalaxmi was brought in a grand procession to the puja mandap and ceremonially installed amid devotion and festive celebrations.
On the opening day of the puja, Ranjit Gharai and his wife, Kanakalata Chand, performed their duties as the karta (principal worshippers). The rituals were conducted under the supervision of chief priest Chaitanya Dash, assisted by Govinda Panda and Prashant Panigrahi.
The puja venue has been beautifully decorated with an attractive ornamental backdrop, an impressive clay idol of Maa Gajalaxmi and dazzling electric decorative arches at the entrance. The colourful lighting arrangements on both sides of the approach road have transformed the surroundings, adding to the festive charm of Laxminagar and the entire Dabugaon town.
The beautifully crafted clay idol appears almost lifelike as the priests perform the traditional rituals and offer prayers to the Goddess. Devotees visiting the mandap are captivated by the divine appearance of Maa Gajalaxmi and the spiritually uplifting atmosphere surrounding the celebrations.
With the arrival of the Goddess, Laxminagar and other parts of Dabugaon block have come alive with religious activities and festive excitement. A large number of devotees are expected to visit the puja mandap to seek the blessings of Maa Gajalaxmi during the festival.
According to the puja committee members, various cultural programmes have been scheduled every night throughout the festival until its concluding day. These programmes are expected to add to the enthusiasm of local residents and visitors while providing a platform for cultural activities and community participation.
The puja is being organised with the active involvement of committee members, including Ram Reli, Sudarshan Reli, Papana Reli, Gopi Reli, Raju Reli, Surendra Reli, Lab Reli, Shobha Reli, Keshab Reli, Jagannath Reli and Ravana Reli. Other respected residents of Reli Sahi are also participating as committee members, ensuring the smooth conduct of the religious celebrations.
To manage the expected crowds during the evening and night hours, the committee members stated that Dabugaon Police Station Officer-in-Charge Lachhimi Paraja would arrange adequate police deployment to maintain law and order and ensure the safety of devotees.
The commencement of Maa Gajalaxmi Puja has brought a renewed sense of devotion, unity and cultural celebration to Laxminagar and Dabugaon, with the locality resonating with religious fervour and festive spirit.
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